Fruit-stemming machine



March 19, 1940. w. E. uRscHEl.

I FRUIT-STEMMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 19, 19.40. w, E URscHEL 2,194,058l

FRUIT-STEMMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet? @ifea gft 907 y;

- l ATTORNEY. f

March 19, 1940. w. E. uRscHEL FRUIT-STEMMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w\\ um wr NSN Patented Mar. 19, 1940 UNITE-o l STATES ritmes rarest orifice y 2,194,058 FRUIT-STEMNHNG MACHINE William E. Urschel, Valparaiso, Ind. y Application November 20, 1937, Serial No. 175,571

17 Claims.

States 'Patent No. 2,002,161 entitled Cherry stem- Y V5 111er. f

.An object of the present invention is the pro 'vision in a fruit-stemming .machine wherein fruit to be stemmed is progressed through a cylinder having walls formed of a plurality of l divided into longitudinal sections wherein the roller-rods of adjacent vsections are of diierent diameter so vthat 'fruit having longer ror more easily vremoved stems may be the rst operated upon ,in the cylinder section having roller-rods lof greatest diameter, while `fruit possessing shorter or less easily removed stems will be stemmed in a succeeding cylinder section in which the rods are of less diameter; An arrangement of this 20 nature yminimizes bunching and the likelihood of bruising or crushing the fruit because of the stems of too great a number of fruit articles being pulled upon simultaneously at any one section of the cylinder.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a fruit-stemming machine conn prising a fruit-holding cylinder having'side walls formed of roller bars and wherein improved yieldable bearing means is provided for rota-tively 30 supporting the cylinder.

Still lanother object of the present invention is the yprovision in a machine as the above of a new .stem-gripping shoe mechanism` which is Q adapted to interchangeably present shoes into UD cooperable 'relation with the fruit-carrying cylinder.

`Other desirable objects will rappear as .the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying three sheets of drawings 'fofhereby made a part of this specification, and

Fig. isa transversesectional View taken onl the line iwi-*5 'of Fig. l.;

, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary .view taken partly in axially extending roller-rods,` of such a cylinder section and illustrating a part of the powertrains of the illustrated machine Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken throughva rotatable feed device; f A

Fig. 8 is a View taken on the line of Fig. 7;` Fig. 9 .shows a part of the apparatus for manipulating stem-gripping shoes;

Figi() is a fragmentary sectional View showing parts of the manipulating :mechanismr for the stern-gripping shoes;

Fig. 1l is a perspective View further illustrating lcam and latch members also shown in Fig. l0;

Fig. 12 is av sideviewfof a stem-gripping shoe; Fig. 13 is a back View of 'a stem-gripping shoe; and l l v Figs. .14, 15 and k1 are fragmentarysectional Views illustrating themanner in which stems` of "fruit are adapted to be engaged between stemgripping shoes androller-rods in diierent sections of the fruit-carrying cylinder. .20

Reference is` now invited to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and particularly to the lmachine frame which comprises two longitudinal side members it and Il to the ends of which are 'bolted upright legs i2, I3, M and S5 disposed respectively at the four corners of said frame. Legs I4 'and i5 areheld in spaced relation vby similar. cross pieces,v it and Il while legs l2 and i3k are likewise held by cross pieces i8 and i9 whose ends are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Tubular spacer members 2e are .30

placed between legs l2 and ld and between legs l5 and i5. Rods (not shown) extendl through the members 2li and through suitable apertures inthe legs. The ends of the rods (not shown) are threaded, thereby enabling l,them toy receive l35 nuts 22 and 23 for holding `the.associatedlparts in assembly. Further rigidity is insured rby means of inclined cross braces 2li and 25 which are bolted to legs l2 and it.

A fruit-carrying cylinder 25, shown in liigs.` l, .40 4 `and 5, is divided into three sections, A, B, and C. The fruit-carrying `cylinder 26 is inclined downwardly froml back to front as may be seen in Fig. l. During the operation of the machine, fruit operated on thereby is passed successively 45 through the cylinder sections A, B and C in the order named.

Bearing means for rotatively carrying the cylinder 'within the machine frame will ynow be described. An end casting 2l', Fig. 3, is aty50 tached to the frame side-members Iii and Il. l Pivotally secured to the casting 27 by means of a bolt 28 is an arm 29. Said arm 29 has a rib 30 shown in dotted outline in Fig. y3 and which is apertured for receiving a bolt 3l. The latter `55 bolt 3l extends through the apertured rib 30 and into a threaded recess 32 in the casting 21, thereby coacting with the pivot bolt 28 for holding the arm 29 rigidly in place upon the machine.

Near the opposite or back end of the machine frame an end casting 33 is provided upon the frame side-members I6 and Il; see Fig. 2. An arm 34 similar to the arm 29 is pivotally attached to the casting 33 by a bolt 35. Said arm 34 is secured rigidly to the casting 33 by means of a bolt 36 which extends through an apertured rib 31 in the arm 34 and into a threaded recess 38 within the casting 33. Arms 23 and 34 carry a spray-pipe 39 Within their upwardly extending ends. While the machine is in operation water is directed into the pipe 39 and permitted t0 escape through a row of apertures (not shown) extending lengthwise of and along its lower side. The water thus escaping from the pipe is adapted to enter the cylinder 26 and cleanse the fruit therein.

A plurality of brackets 46 to 45 are secured to the spray-pipe 39. Each bracket 46 to 45 has an arm 46 in which there is reciprocally disposed a rod 41; see Fig. 5. Each rod 41 has a threaded section carrying a nut 56 which serves as an abutment for one end of a compression spring 5l. The springs 5| which abut at their opposite ends against their associated arms 46 constantly urge their respective rods 4'! to move in one direction with respect to the arms 4B.

The brackets 46 to 45 have respectively associated therewith flexible circular bearing members 52 to 51 as illustrated in Figs. l, 4 and 5. Inasmuch as each of the bearing members 52 to 51 is of substantially similar construction, a detailed description will be given only of the bearing member 56 and its associated supporting parts and with reference to Fig. 5. Each of the bearing members as 56 is preferably constructed of fabric-reinforced rubber. Each bearing member as 5B has a metal strap 58 secured to one of its ends. An apertured ear 48 upon each strap 58 is engaged by one end of a rod 41. The opposite ends of the bearing members as 56 are connected by metal straps 59 which together with bolts as 66 provide means whereby the members are secured to the frame side-member Il. Also secured to thel frame side-member H by bolts as 66 and additional bolts as 6| are brackets 62 to El', bracket 66 being shown in' Fig. 5. Bracket 62 has bifurcations 62A and 62B; bracket has bifurcations 63A and 63B; and so on, bracket 61 having bifurcations 51A and 61B. The shape of brackets 52 to 61 and the bifurcations thereof 52A and 62B to 61A and 61B is plainly illustrated by bracket 56 in Figs. 4 and 5. Said brackets are for preventing axial movement of roller-rod carrier gears as 14 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

A metal strap 68 is secured to the mid-section of each of the exible bearing members as 56 and has an ear 58a engaged by a bolt 68. The bolts 69 are adjustable within respective brackets 1D which are secured to the frame side-member i8 by means of bolts 1l. Lateral deflection of the bolts 68 and hence of the straps 63 and the midsecton of the bearing members as 53 may be effected by means of bolts 12 carried within threaded apertures in the brackets 16.

Referring now to Fig. 4, and particularly to cylinder section A., annular roller-rod carrier gears 13 and 14 will be seen near the opposite ends of such cylinder-section. The gears 13 and 14 are provided with a plurality of selectively spaced bearings 13A and 14A in which there are loosely mounted a like number of roller-rods 15. Adjacent to the roller-rod carrier gear 13 is an annular gear 16 which has an axially extending frange 11. Flange 11 is of such a diameter that the exterior thereof provides a bearing surface which frictionally engages right end sections, Fig. 4, of the roller-rods 15 and urges said rods to rotate within their bearings 13A and 14A incident to relative rotative movement of the gears 13 and 16.

An annular gear 18 similar to the gear 16, but having its flange 19 directed toward the right instead of toward the left, is disposed at the left ends of roller-rods 15, the exterior of the flange 18 engaging the end sections of the rods I5 and thus cooperating with the flange 11 by imparting rotative force to the rods during relative movement between the gears 13 and 14 and the flanged Sears 16 and 18. supported upon the circular bearing members 56 and 51. In Figs, 1 and 4 the bearing member 56 is shown disposed between the gear-tooth sections of gears 14 and 13 While the bearing member 51 is shown between the gear-tooth sections of gears 13 and 16. The entire assembly of cylinder-section A is adapted to be rotated Within the bearing members 55 and 51.

Cylinder-section B is 'constructed similarly to cylinder-section A, the principal difference being that the roller-rods 3U thereof are of less diameter than the roller-rods 15 and that the centers of roller-rods 88 are spaced apart at slightly less distances than are the centers of roller-rods 15.

Roller-rods S6 are journalled within bearings SIA and 82A of gears 8| and 82 which correspond to gears 13 and 14. Gears 83 and 84 have axial flanges or roller-rod driver members 85 and 86 corresponding to the flanges or driver members 11 and 13 on flanged gears 16 and 18. Cylindersection B is rotatively carried upon flexible bearing members 54 and 55 in the identical manner in which cylinder-section A is carried upon the bearing members 56 and 51.

Cylinder-section C is constructed like cylindersections A and B with the principal difference that roller-rods 61 therein are of less diameter than roller-rods 15 or 88 and in the further respect that roller-rods 81 are spaced apart less distantly than either the roller-rods 15 or 80. .l

In the C section of the cylinder or tunnel 26, gears 88 and 89 correspond to the gears 8i and 82 While the hanged gears 96 and 9| correspond to the ilanged gears 33 and 84 of section B. Cylindersection C is rotatively supported in bearing members 52 and 53.

Relativel axial movement of the cylinder sections A, B, and C is precluded by the abutment of flanged gears 18 and 83 and the flanged gears 84 and 96 with one another and by the bifurcations as 66A and 55B of brackets as 66. Axial movement of the cylinder or tunnel 26 as a unit is prevented by the end castings 21 and 33. Lateral deflection of the cylinder or tunnel 26 is prevented by the several bearing members 52 to 51. The yieldable bearing members 52 to 51 are held tautly against and in conformity with the end sections of the roller-rods as 15 which they engage, by means of the adjustable bolts 69 and by means of the reciprocal rods 41 which are constantly urged by springs 5i in a direction to grip said bearing members about the roller-rods.

The machine receives its driving power through a pulley 91a, Fig. 6, which is xed to a shaft SIb. Shaft SIb is rotatively mounted in bearings 92 Cylinder-section A is rotatively lfrictional and 93 which are respectively in a bearing block 9G and a bearing plate 95. The bearing block 94 and the bearing plate 95 are supported upon the right end sections, with respect to the machine as viewed in Fig. l, of frame side-members III and I I. Rotation of the pulley Slain the direction indicated by arrow 95 and the consequent rotation of the shaft SIU causes rotation of gears 91 and 98, the latter gear being xed to a shaft 99 which is shown by a dotted line in Fig. 6 and by solid lines in Fig. 4.' l

Shaft t9, Fig. 4, has fixed `thereto near its right end a compound gear structure IIli) consisting of gears IBI and IGZ of which the teeth respectively mesh with the teeth upon gears 18 and 23. Compound gear |03 includes gears IM, Il5 and |96. The teeth of gears IM and IDB are adapted to drive gears Ill and 8l. The teeth on gear H35 are of such axial extent as to mesh with both gears 'It and 83. Compound gear structure ISI includes gears Iiil, I0@ and Iii. Gears Hi8 and III! mesh with and drive gears B2 and 8B while the Wide gear m9 meshes with and drives gears S4 and SII. Compound gear structure I!! comprises gears I I2 and. I I3 for respectively driving the gears 89 and 9i. The gears in each of the compound structures upon the shaft S9 are fixedfor rotation with said shaft.

It Will be noted that .he pitch circles of anged gears liti, "It, d3, lit, il?! and Si are of the diameter. Also, the diameter of the pitch cir cles of gears itil, m5, IGS M for driving said :flanged gears is the saine, as lis the pitch diamn eter of the gears lt, M, 8l, t2, Bil, and and the pitch vdianieter of gears I, tilt. Hit, litt, IIIl and IM.. 'it will be further noted the ratio between the hanged gears as 'it and tie gears as IiII for respectively driving the is such with respect tothe ratio between the roller-rod y carrier gears as Itand theirrespective driving gears as m2, that hanged will be rok tated at greater speed than the rollerrod carrie).` gears. When the shaft im is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow I It, the ges as 'IS Will. be caused to rotate relatively to the roller rod carrier gears as 'It in the direction indicated by the arrow I I5, Fig. 5. Such relative movement between the flanges as i9 andthe rod carrier gears as '5ft imparts rotative force to the rollern rods as l5 about their own axes in the direction of arrows Iiti. Roller-rods as ldare also caused to rotate inthe direction indicated by arrows IIE because ct the 'frictional engagement between said rods and their iiexible bearing members as 56 during rotation of roller-rod carrier gears as 'It in the direction indicated by arrow H5. The ratio between the flanged as 'i8 and their driving gears as Iiiii is so selected that the gear anges as 'I9 will be movedk at the same speed the surface sections of the roller-rods engaged therewith, assuming no slippage between the roller-rods and the iiexible bearing members as 5S in support thereof; thus the roller-rods are ccmplernentally rotat d about their-'individual axes because of their frictional engagement 'with gear anges as` 'i5 and iieiible bearing members as tt with respect to both or which there is movement by the rod-carrier gears as it.

The fact that the bearing nie "ibers 5t are yield-able is responsible ior di shing the noise of the machine also for effecting a uniform engagement between said bearing members and the sections of tie rollenrods l5 carried thereon. Also, the lexibility of the bearing members asA 5t adapts them tooe drawn i'irnily into engagement with the roller-rods as 'I5 by adjustment of the bolts E9 and by the constant force of the springs 5I, Fig. 5'.

An arm H8 is pivotally secured to `the end casting El, 3, by a bolt H'I. Said arm IIR has an opening IIS in its lower end to loosely receive a stem It@ which is anchored within a lug IZI upon the casting 2. One end of a spring Iii/3 disposed upon the stero I abuts against Washer IZfi held from axial movement by a nut IE5 which is locked in position by a locknut |26. The other end of the spring 23 bears against thelower end of the arm Ila thereby yleldingly urging said arm clockwise against an adjustable stop I2? vupon the stern iZil. The ten sion in the spring IES for resisting counter-clockwise movement of the arm Iii may be adjusted by advancing orretracting the nut It axially of the stern ld and thereafter holding the adjust-nient by means o-the lock-nut it.

Alsoniewhat similar arrangement 'to that just described in the foregoing paragraph is provided upon a casting IZB supported between` the frame side-roernbers Iii and i I as shown in Fig. 9. Casting i228 has an arm litrpivotally depending therefrom about a bolt Idil. The; lower end of the' arm its is provided with an oversize aperture IBS for receiving a stern i322 which is anchored in a lug i355 upon the casting |528. The stein IM has thereon a stop IM, a spring 535, a nut i535 and a loclonut iti. which correspond to the stop I2?, the spring4 H3, the nut I25 and the lock-nut IE6 hereinabove described with reference to Fig. 3. Spring yieidingly the pivotal arrn |29 counterclocltwise against the stop litt. Arms IIS and it@k carry a tubular shaft` ISB which extends lengthwise of the fruitcarrying'cylinder 26; se'e Because of the pivotal mounting of arms i it i the tubular shaft i352 may be shifted away from the fruitecarrying cylinder 2t against the urge offthe gs 5.23 and i535 and. moved toward said cylinder 2% by said springs until 'a predetermined position variable by the stops I2'I and it@ is reached.

The tubular shaft itil has non-rotativeiy theresite on each of the colars Stripdike spring arms it are secured to the :dat faces of each collar i3d by nica-ns of bolts ist. Each arm IM has an arcuate section Iii?, adjacent to its unsecured end. Said arcuate sections are provided with threaded apertures for removably receiving threaded shanksof stop members It and M5.

end sections of a pair of adjacently disros Ifi are shown inV Fig. 13 in associe with a s ein-gripping or collecting shoe `holding the back-plate vSlt? of their shoesr it iirrnly against the concave surfaces of theend sections M3 while permitting the shoes to have alimited osciilatory move-ment about the axis of generation oi the arcuate surfaces within the arm end sections the limit of such movement being determined by the stop members Ulli` -on pair of coilars itt; Figs. l. 2 and 3. Fiat faces Hit are provided diametrically oppoof the shoes it@ will be seen in Figs.

and |45. This allowable relative movement between the stem-collecting shoes |46 and their supporting arms MI enables the shoes |415 to become adjusted relatively to the arms Mtl so that during operation of the device the shoes |03 may be most effectively presented to the fruit-holding cylinder 25. The stern-collecting shoes iii-5 comprise facing members |49 of yieldable or compressible material such as rubber. In Fig. 3 it may be seen that the longitudinal edges of the back plates Eil? are turned inwardly to engage grooves |59 in opposite edges of their associated facing members |59 and in this way retain these parts in assembly.

Tubular shaft |33 is rotatable within its end mountings. The left end of the shaft |39, Fig. 1, has therein a bearing member I5| which is suitably journalled within a bearing |52 of the arm of ||8, Fig. 3. The opposite end of the tubular shaft i538 is non-rotatively joined with a hollow bearing member |53 which abuts against the at face |55 of a semi-cylindrical section |55 of the pivotally supported arm |29. Said section |55 has a semi-cylindrical bearing surface |55a having a vertical axis of generation, it being noted that Fig. l0 is a horizontal sectional View.

A. second bearing member |55 is non-rotatively disposed within the tubular shaft |38 where said bearing member is held in place by a set-screw |51. A short shaft |58 is journalled within the bearing members |53 and |55, said shaft having a sprocket wheel |59 secured thereto. One face of the sprocket |59 is provided with an integral cam l comprising a rise section |G| and inclined sections as |52 arranged between the rise |E| and the low section |63 which covers the greater peripheral portion of the cam.

An oscillatory locking member |64 is mounted upon the semi-cylindrical surface |55a of the arm |29. Said oscillatory member |64 has an elongated opening |55 for receiving the shaft I 58. The opening |65 is of a horizontal extent to permit the member |64 to pivot about its vertical axis a selected distance in either direction without interference of the shaft |58. The oscillatory member |64 has a spherical exterior bearing surface I 65 which ts into a concave spherical surface of the cam |50 thus enabling the sprocket |50 and the cam |59 to continue rotative movement irrespective of the oscillatory position of the member' |54. Member |54 has cam-follower lugs |51 and |53 which are alternately engaged by the rise and the inclined sections |52 of cam |99 whereby oscillatory movement is imparted to member |64. Latch or stop pins |69 |10 are provided in opposite sides of the oscillatory member |50, said pins being adapted to cooperate with a latch member 11| carried upon a leaf spring |12 which in turn is supported by a rib |13 extending radially from the bearing member |53.

The shaft |58, the sprocket |59 and cam I 80 are caused to rotate in the direction of arrow |14, Fig. l0, during operation of the machine. Rotation of the bearing members |53 and |56 and the tubular shaft |38 is effected through a coil spring |15. One end of the spring |15 has a hook |15 which engages a pin |11 anchored in the shaft |58. An axially extending end section |18 of the spring |15, shown dotted in Fig. 10, is seated within a recess |19 in the bearing member |53.

When the sprocket |59 occupies the position shown in Fig. 10, the rise I5! of cam |68 will be in registry with the cam follower lug I 68 whereby the stop pin |10 will be projected into the path of the latch |1I. Incident to rotation, however, of the sprocket |59 and the shaft |58 which is driven from the hub of said sprocket, the stop pin |10 will act through the latch member I1|, spring |12 and rib |13 to prevent rotation of bearing members |53 and |56 and the tubular shaft |39. During the ensuing rotative movement of shaft |58 under these conditions, the spring |15, which now has its end with the extension |18 held against movement with shaft |58, will be wound up. Subsequently, the rise IGI of the cam |60 will approach the cam follower lug |61 and as it does so the incline (not Shown) on the opposite side of the rise |B| will engage the cam follower lug 61 thereby effecting movement of the member |64 counter-clockwise, Fig. l0, thus projecting the stop pin |69 into the path of the latch member |1| while the stop pin |10 is being withdrawn from engagement with the latch member |1I. Because of the lateral flexibility of the spring |12 the frictional engagement between the latch member |1| and the stop pin |10 will cause the latch member I 1| to follow the retracting pin |10 until the stop pin |69 is well within the path to be transversed by the latch member |1I. Thereupon when the cam |59 has moved the member |64 a sufcient distance counter-clockwise the stop pin |10 will be withdrawn from the latch member |1I thus permitting the spring |15, while reacting against the pin |11 on the shaft |58, to unwind coincidentally with imparting rotative movement to the bearing member |53 and the tubular shaft |38. The tubular shaft |38 will be allowed to rotate 180 degrees, further movement being prevented by the latch member |1| engaging stop pin |69.

Incident to continued movement of the sprocket wheel and the shaft |58, cam |68 will cause the rise I5| thereon to approach cam follower lug |58 and thus rotate the member |64 clockwise incident to placing the stop pin |10 within the path of the latch member |15 and to removing the latch pin 59 from the path of said latch member. But during the time latch member |15 is held by stop pin |59, shaft |58 is rotating relatively to the non-rotating shaft |38 whereby the spring |15 is once more wound up so that upon retraction of stop pin |69 from engagement with the latch member 1| the shaft |38 will again be rotated 180 degrees by spring |15. Thus intermittent rotation of tubular shaft |38 through 180 degree arcs will be continued so long as the sprocket |59 and the shaft |58 are rotated. The stern-collecting shoes |46 are arranged upon the shaft I 38 in manner that results in one group of shoes being presented to the fruit carrying cylinder 26 during one quiescent period of the shaft and the other group being presented to the cylinder during the succeeding period.

The power train for driving the sprocket wheel |59 is shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Power from the pulley 9m is transmitted through shaft 9|b, gears |85 and 18|, shaft lla, worm |82, worm wheel |83, a shaft |80, a chain sprocket (not shown) and a chain |85. Shaft |84 is journalled in a bearing |855 within a cross-piece |91 extending between and attached to the lower ends of bearing block 94 and bearing plate 95. Bolts 83 are employed for securing the cross-piece I 81 in place.

Attention is also directed to a power train shown in 6 and for driving a rotatable feeder device indicated generally at |89 in Figs. l, 7 and 75 8. The shaftv lill:r through a gear |30,- thereon drives gears BSI and E92 which rotatev together supported in the upper sections of: bearing block.

S2" and bearing. plate 25.- which have vertical. notches as |96, Fig. l, intowhich bearings |99 and Zilli of? the bearing block itil are journalled.

Stung caps 23|' may be provided for closing the Said. stufling.

upper ends of the bearings |98. caps are heldin place byr pivot pins 222V extending through apertures respectively in ears and' 222i upon the caps 22| and: the bearing block 915' and bearing plate 9a Similar ears 2h35 and 2&6 are ap'ertured for receiving av removable pin such as a cutter pin 2M? which may be removedV easily thereby allowing the caps 20| to be pivoted and driven bythe shaft 2532. The rotatable feeder device |32 comprises three radially dis posed plates 2l2 extending between hub 2li and a circular wall 2i3. A set of three plate eXtensions 2M project radially from a hollow hub 2|-5- which lits 'telescopically over the hub 2-|| andv contains slots for receiving the plates` 2|2. Flanges ME are provided upon the plate exten-y sions 2ll. Axial adjustment of the plate extensions 252i upon the hub 2li is accomplished by means of a bolt 2i? which extends through the end wall of the holow hub 215 into threaded engagement with a recess 2id inthe end of shaft 2%. A spring 2|-9 constantlyV urges the plate extensions 2ill axially tothe right, Fig. '7, against the head of the bolt 2|?. The combined width of the plates 2|2 and the plate extensions may be varied by advancing or retracting the bolt 2li' within the threaded recess 2HE.

While the machine is in operation the feed device |238 including the plates 2i-2 and extensions 2M are rotated in the direction indicatedl by arrow 220', Fig. 8. Fruit, such as cherries which are to have their stems removed are fed into the rotating mechanisml i821 from a hopper 22|. Fruit which has advanced by the force of gravity from the hopper 22| into the lower side of the rotating device E89 will be picked up by one of the plates 2|2l and its extension 2M thereby clearing a space into which additional fruit may gravitate from the hopper 22|.

thus permitting the spring 2|9' to move the platev extensions 2M to the right the overall width ci the plates y2|2 and plate extensions 2id is increased therebyY increasing the capacity of the feeder apparatus. tionalfeedf` device islincreasedI by the flanges ZIE;

The rotatable feeder device |89 has a hub section 2H keyed tov The' fruit that is carried upwardly by the plate 2|2' The capacityl of the rota-f Said flanges allow fruit picked; up by their. eX- tensions 2id to fall only toward the chute 22.2.

The forward end of the hopper 22| rests within a yoke 223 which is supported upon rods 22d anchored within ears. 225 of the pivotal bearing block |97. Angularity ofthe hopper 22| may be adjusted by means of its support member 226.

having its upper end secured to the hopper 22|. by means of a pivot pin 222 and a` bracket 228-. The lower end of the hopper supporting member has a series of notches 222 selectively engageable with the cross-piece extending between legs ll and l5 of the machine frame. Bearing block lill is pivoted at bearing sections |99 and 26H incident to angular adjustment of hopper 22|.

vBeneath the fruit-carrying cylinder 26 there is a tank 232 resting upon frame cross-pieces lt and I8. A screen constituting a frame 23| and a sheet or screen wire 232 or the like is supported v' upon one edge of the tank by means of a flange 233 of an angle-iron strip 23d attached to the lower edge of the frame 23|. The upper edge of the frame 23| rests against a cross-piece 235 shown-dotted in Fig. 2 and extending between'. frame legs l'and l5. Water which streams outwardly from the spray-pipe 39 during operation. of the machine passes downwardly through. the fruit-carrying cylinder'l 265. and' the fruit therein, through the screen. 232: and into the tank 23B. The screen 222 is adapted. to catch the stems" which have been. removedk from the fruit.v A.

spout 23S isY attached to the end casting 2l andA serves to catch and` direct the fruit, as it is discharged from the fruit-carrying. cylinder 2li, into .a 4suitable receptacle or-onto a. passing conveyor, as desired.

Operation of the machine: The machine. is set in motion by applying'driving power to the pulley da, Fig. 6. As has been v hereinabove described, the pulley 9|a through shaft Sib and gears ill and 98 effects rotation of shaftlll. Said shaft 99 by means of the various gears thereon which mesh with'the flanged gearsas 18 and'rodI-carrier gears as 'M cause the fruitcarrying cylinder 2G. to be rotated while at the same time causing the roller rods as l5 to rotate about their individual axes.

Fruit which has been introduced into the hopper 22| is picked up by the rotating feed device ISS. and transferred into the chute 222 and thence into section A or the upper-most end of the cylinder 26. As the cylinder 2liv rotates the' stem-bearing fruit is tumbled about in section A and in being so handledl certain stems of the fruit will be projected outwardly between roller rods 15. One of the stem-gripping or stem--collectingl shoes Ult supported upon the tubular shaft 33 in registry with section A of the fruit-carrying cylinder will be pressed against an exterior portion. of` the cylinder where it is adapted to engage the protruding fruit stems as illustrated in Fig. 1li. Here it will be observed that the roller rods 'l5 are relatively large in. diameter and relativelyI close together and consequently permit only the longer fruit stems to extend such a distance outwardly of' the cylinder as to be effectively ngaged by the stem-collecting shoe. While the cylinder 2E isv rotated the roller rods l5 arecarried bodily in the direction indicated' by arrow 231,` Fig. 14, and the rotation of the rods about their individual axes will be in the direction indicated by arrow 23B. Such rotation of the rods l5. about 'their individual axes enable them to roll ontor a fruit-stem while compressing the same against` the. cooperating stem-collectingV shoe i246..

Rods 'l5 in section A of the fruit-carrying cylinder permit fruit stems to extend outwardly thereof such a distance that they will be engaged rinly enough between the roller-rods and the stem-collecting shoes as will enable the machine to extract the stems which are quite long or which are attached to maturely ripened fruit. Short stems or stems which are attached to fruit not so fully ripened will not be so effectively engaged by the stem-gripping shoes at section A of the cylinder as will enable the machine to remove those Stems from the fruit.

Because of the front end of the cylinder 26 being lower than the back end thereof and because of the constant turbulation of the fruit within the cylinder' 26, the fruit is gradually progressed from section A to section B. In section B o cylinder 26 the roller-rods 8!) which are manipulated similarly to the roller-rods '15, are of less diameter and the spaces therebetween are of greater width thus permitting a greater portion of the fruit stems to project outwardly through the cylinder and to permit the stem-collecting shoes cooperating with this section of the cylinder to effect a i'irmer grip upon the fruit stems and to thereby remove shorter stems than could have been removed in cylinder section A, or remove the stems from fruit not so fully ripened.

Eventually the fruit reaches the cylinder section C where it will be observed in Fig. 16 that the roller-rods 29 are comparatively small with respect to roller-rods 2 or 28. In cylinder section C the roller-rods 29 will permit the fruit to come very near to the stemcollecting shoes associated therewith so that the shoes may obtain an eiective grip upon the fruit stems even though the stems are short. The fruit upon passing from cylinder section C slides outwardly of the machine onto a spout 236 from which it is discharged for further treatment elsewhere.

By constructing the fruit-carrying cylinder or tunnel 26 in a manner that diierent sections thereof are adapted to more eiicaciously operate upon fruit or stems of different character, the tendency of the machine to operate simultaneously upon the fruit at a single cylinder section will be diminished, and as a consequence there will be a reduction in the tendency for the fruit to be held at any certain section of the fruitcarrying cylinder where it might become bunched and bruised. It will be seen, therefore, that the present machine has the advantage of providing an extensive area over which fruit of different characteristics may be worked upon simultaneously without the disadvantage of crowding the fruit in any part of that area.

The fruit is treated more gently in the A section of the cylinder or tunnel 26 wherein the roller-rods are of greater diameter. Fruit from which the stems cannot be removed in this section of the machine is later operated upon in tunnel section B where the roller-rods are of less diameter. If the fruit contained no individual articles from which the stems are diiiicult to remove because of the firmness of such fruit or the shortness of the stems, substantially all of the stems would be extracted prior to it reaching tunnel section C. While tunnel section C acts comparatively rigorously upon the stem bearing fruit therein, such is not the case with regard to the stemmed fruit passing through this section of the machine. Consequently, the machine is capable of operating in a manner enabling it to gently handle such fruit as is adapted to be operated upon easily thereby and to give a more rigorous treatment only to such fruit as is diicult to stem.

A further advantage is gained by the provision in the present machine of groups of stem-collecting shoes which are alternately placed in cooperable relation with the fruit-carrying cylinder. Each time a shoe is removed from the cylinder' EB said shoe is freed of stems and is thus capable of providing a clean working surface when next presented to the cylinder.

I claim:

1. A fruit-stemming machine comprising a rotatable tunnel having a side wall, roller-rods extending axially of said tunnel within said side wall, a rotatable carrier member having bearings wherein said roller-rods are respectively journalled,aexible band-like bearing member wherein said tunnel is supported, said bearing member being provided with a yieldable surface extending transversely of and in frictional engagement with roller-rod sections opposed thereto exteriorly of the tunnel, means constantly urging said bearing member against the opposed roller-rod sections, and means for rotating the tunnel to move said roller-rods along said bearing member and thus cause them to rotate in their carrier bearings.

2. In a fruit-stemming machine including a rotatable tunnel wherein the side wall comprises 1ol1er-rods rotatable about their individual axes which extend axially of the tunnel, a bendable strap-like bearing member for and extending in excess of about said tunnel, said bearing member having a yieldable surface engaging the roller-rods and upon which said rods are adapted to roll during rotation of the tunnel, means for rotating said tunnel, and tensioning means constantly acting upon said bearing member to maintain the same tautly against the roller-rods rolling thereon.

3. In a fruit-stemming machine including a rotatable tunnel wherein the side wall comprises roller-rods rotatable about their individual axes which extend axially of the tunnel, a exible strap-like bearing member embracing a section of said tunnel exteriorly and transversely thereof and having a surface engaging the roller-rods exteriorly of the tunnel, tensioning means constantly acting upon said bearing member to maintain the same tautly against the roller-rods,

means for rotating the tunnel, and means coacting with the strap-like bearing member to rotate the rods simultaneously with the rotation of the tunnel.

4. In a fruit-stemming machine, a rotatable fruit-conveyor tunnel including a plurality of sections through which fruit is successively passed, each of said tunnel sections being provided with a side wall comprising laterally spaced roller-rods extending axially of the tunnel and rotatable about their individual axes, the diameter of the rods in said sections decreasing in the order fruit is received thereby and the lateral spacing of the axes of the less diameter rods respectively in said sections being likewise decreased, and means for rotating said tunnel and for rotating said rods about their individual axes.

5. In a fruit-stemming machine, a rotatable fruit conveyor tunnel including a plurality of sections through which fruit is successively passed, each of said tunnel sections being provided with a side wall comprising laterally spaced roller-rods extending axially of the tunnel and rotatable about their individual axes, the diameter of the said rods in said sections decreasing in the order fruit is received thereby whereas the spaces between said'rods in each of said sections are substantially the same, and means for rotating said tunnel and for rotating said rods about their individual axes.

6. In a fruit-stemming machine, a rotatable fruit-conveyor tunnel including a plurality of sections through which fruit is successively passed', each of said tunnel sections being provided with a side Wall comprising laterally spaced rods extending axially of the tunnel, they rods in a preceding section from which the fruit is dischargedinto a succeeding section being of greater diameter thanthe rods in the succeeding section, the lateral spacing `of the rodsin said sections being such that the'spaces between the rods in veach of said sections. are substantially equal, and

means for rotating said tunnel.

7. In a fruit-stemming machine, intermittently movable stem collecting means, and'means for moving said stem collecting means, comprising a latch member movable With said stem collecting means', a plurality of movable stop members, a rotatable shaft, an energy storage spring having one section connected with said shaft and another section connected With the stem collecting means, and a cam rotatable with said shaft, said cam being operative to move said stop members to andl from positons Where they are adapted to be individually abutted by said latch member, said spring being energized during rotation of the shaft While said latch member is abutted against one of'said stop members, and the movement of said stop members being so coordinated that after predetermined rotation of the shaft a stop mem-- ber abutted by the latch member will be removed from such abutting relation while the other of said stop members is moved into position where it is l adapted to be abutted by the latch member, and the then energized spring becoming eiective upon the removal of the one stopr member to cause movement of said stem collecting means until interruption by the latch member coming into abutment with the other ci said stop members.

8. In a fruit-stemming machine including a rotatable fruit carrier having a side wall provided with spaces through which the stems of fruit in said carrier are adapted to project, means for rotating the carrier, a plurality of stem-collecting shoes exteriorly enga-geable with the carrier Wall whereby the projecting stems are gripped betvveen said shoes and said Wall as an incident to being extracted from the fruit during rotation. of the carrier, a rotatable support member for said shoes, means for intermittently rotating said support member, and resilient arms for securing said shoes upon said support member, said support member being adapted to successively present said shoes in registry With and against said carrier incident to iiexing the resilient arms associated therewith whereby said arms are effective for holding their respective shoes impingingly against the carrier.

, 9. In a mechanical movement, an intermittently rotatable part, a latch member movable with said intermittently rotatable part, a spring having a section drivingly connected With said part, a constantly rotatable shaft drivingly connected With a different section of said spring, a cam movable with said shaft, and a plurality of stop members shiftable by said cam to and from positions where said stop members are adapted to be individually abutted by the latch member to,

abutting against one of the stop members, saidshaft being concurrently operative for moving said cam to remove the said one stop member from said latch member thereby permitting rotation of said intermittently rotatable part under the iniiuence of said spring and for moving the other of said stop members into position for abut-- ment by said latch memberv and thereby interrupting the rotation of said intermittently rotatable part under the influence of said spring.

10. In an article conveyor tunnel having a side ivall, ccaxially rotatable yroller-rod carrier and roller-rod driver members, roller-rods extending axially of said tunnel Within ythe side wall thereof,` said roller-rods being journalled in said carrier member, a fiexible strap-like tunnel supporting member having a yieldable surface extending ex-f teriorly and transversely about a section of said tunnel in engagement Avvith roller-rod sections opposed thereto, tensioning means constantly acting upon said supporting member to maintain said surface thereof firmly against said opposed roller-rod sections, said driver member frictionally engaging the roller-rods interiorly of said tunnel complementally With said tunnel'supporting member andy being` thus adapted to elect rotation of said roller-rods Within their respective carrier journals incident to rotation of. said driver member, means for rotating said` driver member, and means for rotating said carrier in the same sol direction but at a speed less than that-of the l driver member. f

l1. In a fruit-stemming machine, a rotatable fruit-conveyor tunnel including a plurality 'of sections for successively receiving fruit passed through said tunnel, each of said tunnel sections having a side Wall, roller-rods in eachv of said side Walls and extending axially of said tunnel, carrier members rotatable coaxially with the tunnel and having respectively journalied therein the rods of adjacent of said tunnel sections, tunnel support and bearing means providing rollingy surfaces for said rods exteriorly of the tunnel, a roller-rod driver member rotatable coaxially withv said tunnel and engaging the rods .interiorly of said tunnel sections, means directly engaging said' carrier members for. .rotating the same, and

means between said carrier rotating means and directly engaging said driver member for rotating said member in the same direction as said carrier members but at greater speed.v

12. In a fruit-stemming machine, a rotatable fruit-conveyor tunnel including a plurality of sections for successively receiving fruit passed through said tunnel, each of said tunnel sections having a side Wall, roller-rods in each of said side Walls and extending axially of said tunnel, carrier members rotatable coaxially with the tunnel and having respectively journalled therein the'rods of adjacent of said tunnel sections, a gearupon each of said carrier members, tunnel support and bearing means providing rolling surfaces `for said rods exteriorly of the tunnel, a roller-rod driver member rotatable coaxially with said tunnel and engaging the rods interiorly of the tunnel sections, a gear upon said driver member, all of said gears being coaxial With said tunnel, and driving gears respectively meshed With the aforementioned gears forvrotating said carrier members and said driver member, and the ratios of said gears being such that the driving member is driven at a speed exceeding that of the carrier members.

13. In a fruit-stemming machine, a rotatable fruit-conveyer tunnel including a plurality of sections for successively receiving fruit passed through said tunnel, each of said tunnel sections having a side wall, roller-rods in each of said side walls and extending axially of said tunnel, the rods in the preceding of two adjacent of said sections for receiving fruit being larger in diameter than that of the rods in the succeeding of such adjacent sections but the spaces between the rods of such adjacent sections being substantially equal, carrier members rotatable coaxially With the tunnel and having journalled therein the rods of said adjacent sections, tunnel support and bearing means providing rolling surfaces for said rods exteriorly of the tunnel, a roller-rod driver member rotatable coaxially with said tunnel and engaging the rods interiorly of said tunnel sections, means directly engaging said carrier members for rotating the same, and means between said carrier rotating means and directly engaging said driver member for rotating said member in the same direction as the carrier members but at greater speed.

14. In a fruit-stemming machine, a rotatable fruit-conveyor tunnel including a plurality of sections for successively receiving fruit passed through said tunnel, each of said tunnel sections having a side wall, roller-rods in each of said side walls and extending axially of said tunnel, the rods in the preceding of two adjacent of said sections for receiving fruit being larger in diameter than that of the rods in the succeeding of such adjacent sections but the spaces between the rods of such adjacent sections being substantially equal, carrier members rotatable coaxially with the tunnel and having journalled therein the rods of said adjacent sections, a gear upon each of said carrier members, tunnel support and bearing means providing rolling surfaces for said rods exteriorly of the tunnel, a roller-rod driver member rotatable coaxially with said tunnel and engaging the rods interiorly of such adjacent tunnel sections, a gear upon said driver member, all of said gears being coaxial with said tunnel, and driving gears respectively meshed with the aforementioned gears for rotating said carrier members and said driver member, and the ratios of said gears being such that the driving member is driven at a speed exceeding that of the carrier members.

15. In a fruit-stemming machine, a carrier including a side wall provided with spaces through which the stems of fruit in said carrier are adapted to project, rotatable stem-collecting shoe supporting means, a plurality of stem-collecting shoes yieldingly and resiliently disposed upon said supporting means and presentable to an exterior section of said carrier wall to impinge such projecting of said stems thereagainst, means for moving said carrier wall relatively to said shoes to extract the thus impinged stems from the fruit, and means for intermittently rotating said supporting means to successively present the shoes to said carrier wall section.

16. Fruit-stemming apparatus comprising a rotatable fruit carrier including a wall section through which the stems of fruit project outwardly during rotation of the carrier, means for rotating said carrier, a plurality of stem-collecting members registerable with and impingeable against the outer periphery of said wall section, rotatable support means for said members, means for intermittently rotating said support means for successively disposing said members in such impinging registry and for removing them from such registry, and means for suddenly terminating each intermittent rotative movement of the support means to discharge fruit stems from each stem collecting member following its removal from registry with said wall section.

17. Fruit-stemming apparatus comprising a rotatable fruit carrier including a wall section through which the stems of fruit project outwardly during rotation of the carrier, means for rotating said carrier, a plurality of stem-collecting members registerable with and impingeable against the outer periphery of said wall section, rotatable support means for said members and yieldably and resiliently resisting displacement of said members radially inwardly thereof, means for intermittently rotating said support means for successively disposing said members in such impinging registry and for removing them from such registry, and means for suddenly terminating each intermittent rotative movement of the support means to discharge fruit stems from each stem collecting member following its removal from registry with said wall section.

WILLIAM E. URSCHEL. 

